美国国家公共电台 NPR Ohio Governor Proposes New Gun Control Laws, Marking Shift From Past GOP Leadership

 

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is proposing new gun control measures, following the mass shooting Sunday in Dayton. DeWine is a Republican, and his move represents a big shift in the way the state's leaders have approached gun policy.

Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.

ANDY CHOW, BYLINE¹: When DeWine came to Dayton Sunday to memorialize the people killed that morning, he got a message from the crowd.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Do something.

MIKE DEWINE: We are here tonight...

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Do something.

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Do something.

CHOW: The chant eventually drowned out DeWine's remarks. This morning, DeWine said that moment was not lost on him, saying they were angry and he's angry, too.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

DEWINE: Some chanted, do something. And they were absolutely right.

CHOW: DeWine went on to roll out 17 different initiatives to reduce gun violence in Ohio. They include a so-called red flag law, which allows a judge to confiscate² firearms from someone who poses a threat to themselves or others. His plan would also expand background checks, strengthen penalties on crimes involving guns and increase access to mental health treatment. DeWine says there's no magic solution to stopping gun violence.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

DEWINE: But I can tell you this - if we do these things, it will matter. If we do these things, it will make us safer.

CHOW: Since 2011, Republicans have controlled the Ohio House, Senate and governor's office with little to no interest in passing strong gun regulations. This has been met with great frustration³ by state Senator Cecil Thomas and other Democrats⁴ who have spent years introducing bills that reflect what DeWine is now calling for.

CECIL THOMAS: The Republicans got to step up. They've got to do some self-evaluation of their values. You know, people are dying. People are suffering from all of this.

CHOW: Republican Senator Peggy Lehner of the Dayton area says she will no longer be timid in expressing her support for what she calls common-sense regulation.

PEGGY LEHNER: To put a gun in the hands of someone who is mentally ill and has ill will towards other people is not protecting our constitutional rights. It's just plain foolish. It's stupid.

CHOW: For years, lawmakers have passed pro-gun policies, such as expanding the ability to carry concealed⁵ weapons in day cares, college campuses and parts of airports. And they've pushed to allow people to carry concealed weapons without permits or training. Now, Senate Republican spokesperson John Fortney says legislators want to take their time on DeWine's proposed regulations, despite mounting public pressure.

JOHN FORTNEY: The fact is, results count. You can't have an unconstitutional law or an ineffective law passed because it does nothing to protect the public. If it's more important to score political points just to pass a law and pat yourself on the back, you're dishonoring the dead.

CHOW: Chris Dorr, with Ohio Gun Owners, is staunchly opposed to DeWine's red flag law, which the governor called a safety protection order.

CHRIS DORR: He can call that pig what he wants to. He can put as much lipstick⁶ on it, but a safety protection order is still a red flags order. You're still not convicted of a crime.

CHOW: While Dorr says DeWine goes too far, there are gun control advocates that are pushing for even more, such as a ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. There's a group circulating a petition to put expanded background checks on the state ballot⁷ as early as next November for voters to decide if the Ohio Legislature doesn't act.

For NPR News, I'm Andy Chow in Columbus.

1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 confiscate   

v.没收(私人财产)，把…充公

参考例句：

• The police have the right to confiscate any forbidden objects they find.如发现违禁货物，警方有权查扣。
• Did the teacher confiscate your toy?老师没收你的玩具了吗？

3 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

4 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

6 lipstick   

n.口红，唇膏

参考例句：

• Taking out her lipstick,she began to paint her lips.她拿出口红，开始往嘴唇上抹。
• Lipstick and hair conditioner are cosmetics.口红和护发素都是化妆品。

7 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。